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Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, round 2

Stanley Cup Round 2- Bruins Meet Tampa

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WELCOME TO ROUND 2

TAMPA- Boy, it was a hot one Saturday afternoon. The race to clinch the Atlantic Division bounced back and forth between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Throughout the regular season Tampa came out and dominated, leaving very little room for any other team to overtake first place. But when it comes to the playoffs, all bets are off and regular season stats go out the window. For the Boston Bruins, they have managed to once again get into the minds of the Lightning, as they clobbered their way to a 6-2 victory.

A GOOD START

The Bruins quickly came out strong with Rick Nash scoring on a power play in the first period. Patrice Bergeron scored another goal in the second. Forward Brad Marchand looked to score what would be their third goal, however it was waved off as a cross checking penalty on David Pastrnak was called prior. This is where things got a bit wild.

BOLTS STRIKE BACK WITH A BIT OF CONTROVERSY

As the Lightning were looking to gain momentum, Tuukka Rask had some wardrobe malfunction as a skate blade came off, limiting his movement in net. As he tried to get the attention of the refs, Tampa took advantage and Mikhail Sergachev scored cutting the goal deficit by one. To say he was frustrated was putting in mildly, but the referees made the right call. The NHL public relations quickly explained the rule #9.6:

“There is no goal for referees to stop play for a broken piece of equipment, regardless of whether the equipment belongs to a goaltender or a skater. the lone exception is when referees may stop play after a goaltender has lost his helmet.”

HUSTLE AND FLOW

The Marchand-Bergeron and Pastrnak line has produced a total of 12 goals and 41 points in their last five games. Rick Nash got the Bruins on board from an assist with David Pastrnak during a power play. Forty-two seconds into the second, once again, Pastrnak found Patrice Bergeron and got the Bruins on board, making the score 2-0. However, Tampa answered back as Dan Girardi got the Lightning on board two minutes into the second. A waved-off goal by Marchand and with Pastrnak in the penalty box, the Bruins were able to kill a power play off. Rick Nash quickly scored his second goal of the game, giving the Bruins a 3-1 lead.

WHAT’S UP WITH THE REFS?

After an interesting call on Jake DeBrusk for “interference” and the Rask blade controversy in the second, Tampa were looking to close that gap. But Boston kept control of the game.  The Bruins shook off the remnants of wild second period and with goals from Marchand, Bergeron, and an empty netter by DeBrusk. Boston defeated Tampa 6-2.

SHINING IN NET

Stanley Cup Playoff series round 2

Tuukka Rask stopping a shot

After looking shaky in net in the last few games of the series, many will be looking to Tuukka Rask to have more confidence.  There have been many narratives about Rask getting the start in net against Tampa. In Game 1 of this tough series, it’s easy to see that Tuukka was in the zone. He allowed only two goals throughout the game and stopped 34 shots on net. Pretty good numbers if you consider he was screened by his own defensemen and lost a blade on his left skate.

“These freaking skates nowadays, the blades come off. I was yelling at the ref for 10 seconds. He didn’t  hear me. It sucks. I’m glad we won.”

 

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Rick Nash Had two goals in the first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tuukka Rask and Rick Nash were the stars of this game. Vasilevsky was shaky in net, but much like with Toronto, Boston will have to take it one game at a time. Rask needs to continue to shine in net. Offensively, the Bruins need to drive to the net full force and bring back that momentum when they return to Boston. The last time these two teams met was in 2011, and that series went to seven games (with Nathan Horton scoring the clinching goal at the Garden). And we all know how that year ended. This will be a tough series and will only get tougher as we head into June. Will the 2018 Boston Bruins see a repeat of what happened in 2011?

Let the best team win.

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrl88

Providence Bruins Heading to Allentown

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The Dunk is rocking following two intense Atlantic Division matchups this past weekend in Providence.  The two games were split amongst the Providence Bruins and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.  Games 3 and 4 are taking place next Friday and Saturday in Allentown at the PPL Center.  If the Providence Bruins continue to play the way they are plying, this is going to be a quick series.  Going out to Allentown is going to bring some new challenges to the team.  Not to mention the last two times the Providence Bruins played at the PPL Center, the Phantoms shut them out.

Providence Bruins

 

Game 1

The Providence Bruins are playing well enough to reflect a 2-0 series lead.  However, as we all know, the puck does not lie.  Sometimes breaks do not always go your way.  Phantoms’ goalie Alex Lyon has been playing some of the best hockey of his young career.  Former Boston College Eagle Ryan Fitzgerald got the game going with a late first period, power play goal.  However, Lehigh Valley did not give up and quickly scored, ending the first period with a score of 1-1.  Notably, Ryan Fitzgerald got the Providence Bruins going quickly again, scoring early in the second period.

Multiple penalties continued to prove costly for Providence.  The Phantoms were able to score twice on a 5-3 power play, giving Lehigh Valley the 3-2 lead.  No scoring occurred during the third period.  Despite out shooting the Phantoms 15-2, Lyon was able to smoother up everything and secure a Game 1 victory.  In the end, Lyon stoned 39 out of 41 shots.  However, if the Providence Bruins keep putting shot totals like that, good things will happen.  Zane McIntrye played well, stopping 21 of 24 shots.  However, one weak goal seemed to make the difference.  Danick Martel’s blue line shot jumped over McIntrye’s glove.  How can some one blame Zane for the two power play goals?

Game 2

The Providence Bruins kept the trend of starting off strong in Game 2.  This time it is Anton Blidh and Peter Cehlarik who scored quickly.  Five minutes and eight seconds into the game the Providence Bruins secured a 2-0 lead.  Again, the Phantoms did not going down quietly.  Lehigh Valley scored twice in the second period.  Both goals occurred within one minute and eleven seconds of each other.  Momentum continued to swing in this series, as Jordan Szwarz scored a short-handed goal to give the Providence Bruins the 3-2 lead.  Peter Cehlarik continues to light the lamp this series.  The Providence Bruins went on to win this one 5-3, evening out the series.

 

Austin Czarnik is the unsung hero so far of this playoff matchup.  Czarnik currently leads the Calder Cup Playoffs with four assists.  Both he and Ryan Fitzgerald have two goals this series.  Zane McIntyre mysteriously did not play in Game 2.  Rumors were flying that he would be the third goalie in Toronto, but Daniel Vladar was on the practice lines.  Not to mention Jordan Binnington played out of his mind in Game 2, stopping 23 of 26 shots.  It is unclear who is going to be manning the pipes for Game 3.  All the Providence Bruins need to do is keep playing the way they are and things will work out.

Watch the Providence Bruins preparing for their run here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqpWgEI83ZA

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn @TA_CawHawkey

The Bruins Have Embarrased the Leafs so Far

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Heading into their first round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, many were expecting a competitive series. Two games in, and it’s been anything but that as the Bruins hold a 2-0 series lead. In their first two matchups, the Bruins have outscored the Leafs 12-4 at TD Garden. The Bruins emasculated the Leafs in Game 2, with Pastranak going between the legs in front of the Leafs goal. Right now, the Maple Leafs are in a tight spot heading back to Toronto its do or die for them in Game 3. But let’s take a look at some of the reasons the Bruins have embarrassed the Leafs up to this point:

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Physicality

The Bruins have been men among boys against Toronto up to this point. Everyone knew that Toronto had issues on the back end coming into the series. But no one thought it would look this bad. The Bruins are doing whatever they want wherever they want on the ice right now, and Toronto cannot do anything about it. Backes and Nash in particular have been a problem down low for the Leafs, because they just cannot match that type of physically dominating player. We have seen this in both games, with both of them scoring a goal right on top of the blue paint. It’s getting to the point where the Leafs are shying away from contact. When they do decide to throw their weight around the Bruins have just bullied them. Mike Babcock needs to do something because right now. Toronto looks like a bunch of helpless kids out there.

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The First Line Matchup

The Bruins’ first line has taken one of the best players in hockey in Austin Matthews, and turned him into a scoreless almost useless player. Which should tell you how good the line of Marchand/Bergeron/Pastranak has been. “I don’t know **** happens”, is how Matthews responded when asked about the Bruins first line when they put up an insane 14 points in the Bruins 7-3 massacre of the Leafs.

The Bergeron line has put up 20 points in the first two games. Pastranak has four goals, nine points, and is the youngest player in NHL history to put up six points in a playoff game. Marchand has one goal, and five assists, while Bergeron has also put up five assists. Combined they have a +18 rating heading into Toronto. If Toronto has any chance of winning this thing they need to contain the Bergeron line, or they are going home fast.

A change of venue usually has a big effect in hockey, so do not count the Leafs out quite yet. But one thing that I did not expect to see this series is that Toronto is a soft team. While the Bruins have kept doing what they have done all year: winning.

Game Two

Bruins Dominate Game 2

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Offense Carries Bruins in Game Two

In Game 1 the Bruins dominated the Maple Leafs. Game 2 was no different, as they were fueled by a special performance by David Pastrnak. In the first two games of the series the Black and Gold have outscored Toronto 12-4. They have been explosive offensively and almost automatic on the power play. Game 2, however, belonged to a Pastrnak. In the playoffs legends are made, and through two games it seems like this could be a historic playoff run for the twenty one year old forward.

Dominating Early

In Game 2 the Bruins took the lead and never looked back. They scored four goals in the first period and again dominated on the power play, as they had two goals bringing their total in the series to five. The Bruins scored their early goals by attacking the net. Halfway into the first period the Maple Leafs changed their goalies, which showed how much the Bruins were dominating. Everything was going the Bruins’ way as Kevin Millers goal bounced off the Maple Leafs’ goalie’s stick and his own defenseman before going in.

Game Two

Photo Credit: Greg Cooper USA- Today Sports

Bruins Balanced Offensive Attack

Pastrnak had a special game, but his linemates also played very well. Marchand recorded four assists and Bergeron recorder three assists. This line is considered one of the best in hockey and in Game 2 they could not be stopped. Of the Bruins’ five goals in the game, their top line contributed on all of them. They have a unique chemistry and make the hard plays look easy. For the second straight game Krejci and Debrusk also contributed. They both had goals and showed why Boston’s second line is also very dangerous. Through the first two games the Bruins four lines have all been good. That depth is what made them so good in the regular season.

Game Two

Photo Credit: Tara Sullivan

Pastrnak’s Unreal Performance

During every postseason every player steps up. That’s what makes them so special, but Pastrnak does not fall under that category as he is one of the top young players in the league. In Game 2, he elevated his play to a whole new level. So far in his young career he’s gotten better every year. He still makes mistakes but this year but he has minimized them. On Friday he showed that he could carry a team in the playoffs. The playoffs are young, and Pastrnak is just getting started.

 

Follow Jamie Gatlin on twitter @JamieGatin1217

David Pastrňák Is Making It Look Easy

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The young Czech right wing is quickly living up to his superstar role

The Bruins knew Toronto would come out swinging after suffering a 5-1 loss last Thursday night at the Garden. As the story goes for this Boston team, the Bruins do not give up, nor will they let how they ended their regular season dictate their gameplay against a tough Maple Leafs team. The playoffs is a whole new beast and, so far, the Black and Gold have come out in full force with a quick 2-0 lead in the series. The Leafs had the Bruins’ number all season but now find themselves playing catch up. The Bruins haven’t played perfect, and there are still a few things that need to be tightened up. But boy are they having fun. And no one is having more fun than the ever-smiling David Pastrňák.

David Pastrňák celebrates his second goal of the night

A BARGAIN FOR A HOT SUPERSTAR

Last summer there was some panic among Bruins fans as preseason was about to start with no new contract securing the 21-year-old Pastrňák. With the Bruins shaky history of letting talent go, some were calling for Sweeney and Cam Neely to move with more urgency in signing Pastrňák. But Don Sweeney wasn’t too fazed and didn’t have a timetable. A little back and forth and Sweeney finally was able to sign the young Czech to a $40 million dollar contract for six years. After a breakout year last season, “Pasta” would only get better. So far the young Czech has not disappointed. The good part? He will be a Bruin during his developing career. What he’s getting in comparison to someone like Connor McDavid (who signed a ridiculous $100 million extension and isn’t even in the playoffs this year), you’ve got to hand it to Sweeney. He did good in securing the young superstar.

A FORMIDABLE LINE

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrňák. One of NHL’s most destructive lines. As one reporter had to remind Toronto’s Auston Matthews, that line alone has garnered 20 points in just two games. During the regular season, all three players lead the team in goals, assist and points, making them, as NBC’s Sports Boston Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty calls them, “The Perfection Line.”  And for Pastrňák, Saturday’s game was nothing short of historic and record-breaking.

BY THE NUMBERS

At just age 21 years old, Pastrňák has become the youngest NHL player in history to record six points in a playoff game, surpassing Wayne Gretzky. He is the first Bruin since Phil Esposito to have three goals and six points in a playoff game. He also garnered his first playoff career hat trick along with getting nine points total so far in the playoffs. Let’s not forget that Pastrňák is still developing as a player and still feels like he’s learning a lot from his linemates. Patrice Bergeron had this to say:

“That’s what amazes me with him. There’s a lot of skilled players who are skilled when they have the puck, but when they don’t have it, they don’t necessarily want it as much as this guy”

 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Leafs are frustrated and as we head into Game 3 in Toronto, the Bruins will need to continue to overwhelm their opponent while exploiting their lack of defense. Speed is Toronto’s forte and if Boston can shut that down, this series will quickly be lost. Even though Boston is leading the series, it’s still too early to count out the Leafs. It’s a battle between two young teams that are technically still developing. Does Toronto still have that passion to make a comeback? After all, this is hockey and anything can happen. The hockey Gods show no mercy. But for those wearing the spoked B, rest assured our guys are hungry and they want the cup.  For Pastrňák, I have a sneaky suspicion that he’s just getting started.

 

 

All Photos courtesy of NHL Bruins Website

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on twitter @pastagrl88

Game One

Bruins Take Game One

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Bruins Heading Into Game One

Last night the Bruins began their playoff series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Black and Gold did not finish the regular season strong. However, they did not let that affect them, as they won Game One 5-1. The Bruins got goals from five different players and capitalized on their power play opportunities. The Bruins played with grit and toughness in their playoff opener. This lead to an impressive win in front of their home crowd.

Capitalizing on the Power Play

Of the five goals the Bruins scored, three of them came on the power play. The Bruins have one of the most dangerous power play units the NHL. Marchand, Pastrnak, and Bergeron showed why last night. In the first period Torey Krug found Marchand cutting to the net. Krug hit Marchand in stride and he lifted a backhander over the Maple Leafs goalie as if they had done it one hundred times before. The Bruins second power play unit was also impressive as they recorded two goals. Scoring on the power play will be key for this team as it has hard to stop, especially with Rick Nash returning to the lineup.

Game One

Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/ Getty Images

Tuukka Rask

Last night the Bruins number one goaltender had a very good game. Of the 27 shots he faced he saved 26. That comes out to a save percentage of .963 %. This is a big postseason for Rask, and he couldn’t have done much better last night. He made key saves and tough ones in front of the net with multiple Maple Leafs picking at the puck. That is the goalie Rask will need to be for this team to make a deep run. Last night he eased any concerns that he could still be that goalie in the playoffs.

Game One

AP Photo/Mary Schwalm

Style of Play

Last night the Bruins saw the return of Sean Kuraly to the fourth line. He showed what the Bruins had been missing during his injury. In the third period he scored an incredible goal, which personified the grit and effort that made the Bruins fourth line loved during the regular season. During the third period, while in mid-air Kuraly swatted in a rebound of a shot by Pastrnak. Kuraly did not give up on the play and scored an incredibly difficult goal. This is the type of play the Bruins pride themselves on and how they will need to play to advance.

Game One

AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Final Thoughts

This series is far from over. Game One was as good of a start as this team could have asked for. Game Two is tomorrow night at 8 PM. Don’t expect this team to let up; their playoff run is just getting started.

 

Toronto

Playoff Preview: Boston vs. Toronto

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How the Regular Season Ended

The Bruins’ regular season didn’t end as many would have liked. They lost four of their last five games, including their regular season finale with first place on the line. The Bruins did not show the same dominance they had earlier in the season. This has left some wondering if they should be worried about this team with the playoffs set to begin Thursday against Toronto.

Toronto

Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images

Injury Bug

As the Bruins’ season came to a close, it seemed as if everyone was battling an injury. There is a good chance the Bruins will see the return of three key players on Thursday: Rick and Riley Nash, and Sean Kuraly. With the exception of Brandon Carlo, this team will be at full strength for the first time in a while. When the Bruins acquired Rick Nash it gave them a more dangerous second and third line. With the return of these three players, the Bruins become a much deeper team. This team was a force when fully healthy. However, the second half the season saw their performance dip as many key players were injured. This forced Cassidy to juggle the lines just as everything seemed to be firing on all cylinders.

Toronto

Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Michael Dwyer

Importance of Tuukka Rask Against Toronto

In the playoffs the play of Tuukka Rask will be key. In order for the Bruins to advance, he will need to have a dominant performance. Rask hasn’t shown that dominant form lately, as in his last three starts he’s allowed eleven goals. He now has a couple of days of rest. This playoff run could define his time in Boston. He has been heavily criticized for his play in clutch moments, and is still defined by the 2013 Stanley Cup, when the Bruins collapsed in the final two minutes of Game 6. As a result, the Bruins watched the Blackhawks celebrate a championship on their home ice.

Toronto

Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Michael Dwyer

Last Playoff Series Between Toronto and Boston

The last time Toronto and Boston faced off in the playoffs was in the 2013- 2014 season. Bruins fans remember that season fondly as the Boston made history. Facing a three goal deficit, the B’s became the first NHL team to win a Game 7 after trailing by three goals in the third period. This series will be filed with many exciting moments. The Bruins will not want to find themselves in that position again.

Toronto

Photo Credit: Brian Babineau/ Getty Images

What to Expect for the Stanley Cup Playoffs

With this team fully healthy they should put on a better performance than they have as late. When healthy they have been dangerous because of their depth and style of play. These players will be motivated, as the Bruins will be looking to advance past the first round for the first time since their magical comeback against Toronto five years ago. All season this team has had a knack for coming up big with the odds against them. It all begins Thursday, and this team will be determined to end this season with a championship. 

Bruce Cassidy

No Jack Adams for Bruce Cassidy?

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With little talk about being coach of the year, Coach Bruce Cassidy has helped rebuild the Boston Bruins.

When General Manager Don Sweeney announced last April that Bruce Cassidy would the 28th head coach of the Boston Bruins, there was hope and excitement about the new direction this team was taking. Amid the plethora of young players coming in and the return of seasoned veterans, you could see that the Bruins were going to be contenders.

Then came the injuries.

OVERCOMING SOME ODDS

The B’s went through their ups and downs through the beginning of the season. Without making excuses, when you have a young injured team and a new head coach, there will be some growing pains. The big question was: will this team even make the Wild Card race? Fast forward to April 2018, and the Bruins have become that team that just won’t quit. Boston is the team that many do not want to face in the Stanley Cup finals. Don’t forget, the Bruins are severely short-handed and are now just getting back some key players. 

Bruce Cassidy on the bench

ENTER CASSIDY

Boston has the talent and speed. And most importantly, they have an exceptional coach that knows his players and continues to make all the right changes.  As the Bruins finish their last week of the regular season, it’s interesting to hear minimal talk about Cassidy becoming a recipient of the Jack Adams award. Although the only trophy any NHL coach wants it’s the big silver cup, it’s hard to ignore what Cassidy has done for this young team.

QUICK NOTES

And of course, you can’t gloss over what Gerard Gallant has done for the Vegas Golden Knights, who are full of players that have become the most successful team in its inaugural season. Gallant, for many fans and experts alike, seems to be shoe-in for the Adams award. Still, what if the Bruins win arguably one of the most difficult trophies in any sport? Would Cassidy get the recognition he deserves?

BY THE NUMBERS

Last season the Bruins, still under Claude Julien,  were looking to miss the playoffs yet again. Something had to change and the time had come with Sweeney finally letting go of Boston’s long-tenured coach.  Enter Bruce Cassidy, former head coach of the Providence Bruins. Cassidy had to coach a fragmented team that no longer responded to Julien while shifting to a new playing style that emphasized speed.  No longer taking a slower approach and no more playing the dump and chase game-the Bruins would start to pick up their pace.

Bruce Cassidy

As the interim head coach for the Bruins’ final 33 regular and postseason games, he compiled an impressive an 18-8-1 regular season record. The Bruins would clinch a playoff berth for the first time since the 2013-14 season.  And for some quick stats when Cassidy took over for Julien, the Bruins would: rank first in the NHL in goals per game (3.37), first in the NHL in fewest shots allowed (741), tied for second in the NHL in wins (18), tied for second in the NHL in power-play percentage (27.8%), tied for third in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.30) (source: NHL).

BUTCH CASSIDY

With the title “Interim” being stripped away, Bruce Cassidy would step in as the official coach of the Boston Bruins.  He would be tested however as the team began the season with injuries and with some tough losses and varied wins, many were unsure about how far this team would go. But as the story goes, you can never count the Black and Gold out. And with a successful trip out west in November, everything started to click.  Chemistry was building amongst the players. Cassidy was learning to read his players and tweaking the lines as needed. With a team like the Bruins, every line has proved to be productive.

2017-2018 SEASON

The 2018 Boston Bruins

The Bruins are in a good place right now and are poised to clinch the division title. Cassidy’s record so far with the Bruins since taking over is 67-26-13; Claude Julien was 26-23 before he was let go. No question that Cassidy has been an important proponent in rebuilding this team and continues to make smart decisions. With a few games left in the regular season, the Bruins will be pushing for a deep playoff run. Boston needs to continue to outperform their opponents and stay healthy.  While there’s little chance that Cassidy will win the Jack Adams award this season, fans know he is one of the reasons this team has become a force to be reckoned with.

See you in June.

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on twitter @pastagrll88

Bruins Captain

Bruins Extend Their Captain

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Bruins Captain Gets Extension

Early Wednesday afternoon the Boston Bruins gave their longtime captain Zdeno Chara a one year extension. This most likely means the end is soon for Chara. The Black and Gold are playoff bound, and for Chara it could be one of his last runs. This extension means the Bruins captain will most likely finish his career in Boston; a fitting ending for their longest tenured player.

Bruins Captain

Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

Chara’s Early Days

Chara came to the Bruins as a free agent in the 2006 season. The Bruins signed him to a five year deal for $7.5 million a year. He was the first big signing for a Bruins organization that was trying to find its way. Since then, the Bruins captain has had a memorable run in Boston. He won the Norris Trophy in the 2008-2009 season and has finished in the top five for the award four other times. He isn’t the forty point scorer he once was, but he’s still critical to this team.

Bruins Captain

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

How the NHL Has changed

As Chara’s time in Boston has gone, he has changed, and so has the team. When he came here this wasn’t a playoff team. He’s helped instill a culture of winning that wasn’t here when he arrived. It’s the culture he worked for the one he signed on to create. The NHL has also changed, as it is now much faster faced. Offensive minded defenseman are more prominent today. Chara is not the same defenseman that once averaged forty points a season, nor is he the face of the franchise. The title belongs Bergeron now, but that is not where his value lies.

Bruins Captain

Photo Credit: Winslow Townson USA Today Sports

Chara’s Impact on the Youth

When Chara does walk away from hockey he’ll be leaving a playoff team, not one trying to find its way like the one he signed with twelve years ago. He has been key in mentoring the Bruins youth, including players such Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Matt Grzelcyk. These are the kids who will look to build on a season that for many has been a dream. Chara isn’t a top five defenseman in the NHL but he’s still one of the best. This extension could reach five million in incentives, and it could be Big Z’s last one. He is a big reason the Bruins are playoff bound, and for the change since he got here.

Bruins Fans Listen to No One

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The Bruins released one of the best hype videos I have seen by a sports team, with the theme of listening to no one. Other than slamming local radio host Michael Felger, the video perfectly displays the harsh criticism that surrounded this team early on. The young inexperienced Bruins could have very easily allowed the pressure of local media to get in their heads. Instead, they listened to no one outside of the locker room. Now the team is poised to win the seventh Stanley cup in franchise history.

“There Are to Many Young Guys”

The video starts out with Felger saying, “This is what I think the issue with the team is, there are to many young guys”. Do not be fooled this opinion was rather popular. Many, including myself, thought this team was to young and inexperienced. Boy, we could not have been more wrong. The youth of this team is the reason they have been so successful. McAvoy, Pastranak, Heinen, Donato, Debrusk, Bjork, and Carlo are all players who have contributed to this team. None of them are over the age of 21. The teams biggest flaw rapidly developed into the team’s biggest strength. The young players have answered every single question they possibly could have in the regular season. Now the only test remaining is answering the bell when it matters most in the playoffs. Everyone is doubting their ability to handle a playoff atmosphere. But as the team has taught us, listen to no one.

“They Do Not Know What They Are Doing”

Next Felger claims, “There are too many guys running around who do not know what they are doing”. Fast forward and the Bruins are third in the NHL with 104 points, and have a shot at the President’s Trophy. It seems as if they may have a clue on what to do out on the ice. One of the flaws of having such a young offensively gifted group of players is that sometimes the defensive aspect gets glossed over. But the Bruins, as they have done all year long, continue to defy logic and reason.

Even with the abundance of youth on the roster the Bruins rank third in the NHL with an excellent 2.53 goals allowed per game. They also rank sixth in the NHL on the penalty kill, keeping the puck out of their own net 82.7 percent of the time. While Bruce Cassidy deserves a lot of credit for how defensively responsible this team is, the players play the game and the young players have shown they are not one-dimensional. Cassidy taught the team not to listen to no one but to use the hate as motivation.

“The Bruins Season Is Over”

Lastly Felger stated, “I think the Bruins season is over, I think they are done”. Right now the Bruins would play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After Felger and the rest of Boston media deemed their season to be over in mid October. Any person with any hockey sense knows that the real reason this team got its act together is because Cassidy benched Tuukka Rask. Not because of what the local media was saying. Either way since mid-November the Boston Bruins are an insane 41-10-6. By far the best record in hockey in that span. To play that level of hockey for over three months is absolutely absurd. This team has lost major pieces to injury Bergeron, Chara, McAvoy and has not slowed down. They lost Brad Marchand, a Hart Trophy candidate, to a five game suspension and went 4-1. The depleted Bruins went into Tampa Bay one of if not the best team in hockey widely undermanned and shut them down 3-0.

Name the game, this team will beat you at it. Listen to no one this team has that it factor. Any team who has to face this team in the playoffs will have to lay down their lives, because the Bruins just do not quit. As the Bruins put it so perfectly hockey, “is in our blood”. So Boston, strap up, because the Boston Bruins will win the Stanley Cup.

Cover image courtesy of Causeway Crowd.